Swivel and locking connection for tubes



Dec. 18, 1951 V, J, QBUMBLATT 2,579,314

SWIVEL AND LOCKING CONNECTION FOR T'UOES l Filed June 22. 1950 Illllllhmm Inventor: Vctor J.' Grum blatt,

HIS Attorney.

Patented Dec. 18, 1951 SWIVEL AND LOCKING CONNECTION FOR TUBES victor J. Grumman, East cleveland, ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 22, 1950, Serial No. 169,626

My invention relates to swivel connections between tubes or tubular members where it is desired at times to lock the swivel against movement. My invention is particularly useful in making connections or couplings between'tubes or tubular elements in so-called suction cleaners and blowers. It will be shown as applied toa joint between a suction hose end and a tubular wand section, but obviously the improved connection or coupling could be applied to the joint between a hose and a cleaner body, or a joint between a rigid wand and the end ofa cleaning tool, or between two wand sections.

One object of my invention is to obtain not only a readily separable swivel joint at a desired location, as is usual in many structures of this character, but also to provide in such a joint a means for positively locking the joint at any position of swiveling. This produces a joint or coupling whichl may function as a swivel between two adjacent tubular sections but which, upon adjustment, may lock the two sections together or release the two sections for separation from each other.

A further object of my invention is to make a locking swivel joint of the character described with no increase in the number of parts required over ordinary separable swivel joints.

The principal objects of my invention are obtained by substituting a toothed expanding locking ring for the ordinary smooth split ring of joints of this character, and b-y knurling or serrating adjacent surfaces of the sleeves or tubes which are joined. The toothed ring can, therefore, lock the two sleeves together, or be adjusted so that swiveling may take place without locking or so that the sleeves may be readily separated.l

Other objects and further details of that which I believe to be novel and my invention will be clear from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an example of swivel and locking connection embodying the 'present invention and incorporating the toothed expanding locking ring and knurled or serrated surfaces above referred to.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a suction cleaner showing my invention applied to the coupling between the cleaner hose and a rigid tubular wand; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the coupling with the parts shown in locked position; Fig. 3 is a similar sectional View showing the parts adjusted to the swiveling position; Fig. 4 is a, similar sectional view with the parts s claims. (o1. .28s-122i in their uncoupled position; Fig. 5 is an end view ofthe outer sleeve or element of my coupling.; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary viewr ofv the locking ring in my invention. f f

My invention is particularly useful in cases where a separable swiveled joint is now used, where it is also desirable to have the swivel locked at times. As shown, it may be applied to a suction cleaner having a body l containing the yusual suction producing and dirt collecting elements (not shown), to which body is removably connected a flexible hose 2 which in turn is removably connected to a tubular wand 3 of rigid metal or other material which detachably carries a nozzle or other cleaning attachment 4 at its outer end. The connection or coupling of my invention may be used between any one or all of the above elements I through 4 although I have shown it as applied between the hose 2 andv the wand 3. y

"The two principal parts of a coupling according to my invention include an outer swivel tube or sleeve 5 and a second inner tubular sleeve 6 whichts telescopically inside of the outer tube. The outer sleeve is firmly secured to or made integral with one of the tubular members of the joint, shown here as the wand. For the purpose of assisting in joining to the other member of the coupling, as explained later, this outer swivel sleeve is provided on its outside near its end with a threaded portion l. This outer sleeve has an end surface 8 whichv -is serrated or knurled as at 9, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The inside of this outer sleeve has a circumferential stepped seating portion I0 which slidably and rotatably receives the inner sleeve, the step acting as a stop to limit the distance of insertion of the inner sleeve within the outer' sleeve. f

The inner sleeve 6 is rmly secured to or made integral with the yother tubular memberv to be joined, shown here as the hose. This inner member is provided with a circumferential groove Il on its outside which is located rightv next to the knurled end surface `9 of the outer sleeve when Athe inner sleeve is fully seated in the outer sleeve as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The member which actually holds the two cou pling sections together vis the normally expanded garter spring I3 shown herein' the form of a cylindrical spiral spring having its ends screwed together or otherwise joined as at |3a, as shown in Fig. 6, to form an annulus or garter. This coiled spring locking ring provides teeth for engagement with the serrations 9 of the outer sleeve and with the serrations I2 in the groove of the inner sleeve. When relaxed, the spring ring expands to a larger diameter than the outside of the inner sleeve, but it can be compressed to a diameter small enough so that its turns or coils actas teeth to engage with the serrations in the groove VIlgj j For controlling the diameter of the garter spring locking ring, provide a swivel attachment nut I4, preferably roughened or knurled as at I5 on its outer surface for ease in .gripping .and turning. This nut has an inner threaded portion I6 which engages and co-operates with the threads 'I on the outer sleeve. As is .apparent from the drawing, this nut member surrounds the locking ring I3 and, through an inner tapered bearing portion I1 on the nut, controls the .diameter of the spring ring. This tapered portion tapers from its largest diameter near the threads I6 to its smallest diameter near the end of the nut and 7extends over the Aend of the outer sleeve in .all positions of the nut. The largest diameter of the tapered Aportion permits full expansion fof the spring ringxso that the l.inner sleeve .can be easily inserted .intoor removed from the outer sleeve without interierenoe from the spring ring. The smallest vdiameter of the tapered portion is small.enough .to .compress kthe spring so that i-t will seat in the serrations I2 in :the groove vEI to lock :the sleeves together when the nut is tightened. Obviously .the spring :ring engages against the end 8 of the outersleeve at one side, and against the tapered inner surface of the nut lon its :other side at the outside. Theisckmg .posit-1bn of .the spring ring and `other parts is shovm in Fig. f2, rThe fully expanded position of the flocking ring so that the tubes rma-y :be disengaged is shown .in Fig. 4. :in an intermediate position oi adjustment of the nut as shown in Fig. 3, the locking spring, although still within the groove II, is .suiiiciently .expanded to `-be released from thesser-ra tions l -2 so that lthe two sleeves can. swivel freely `but :cannot be separated.

Because the'spring is of va Ysize so :that it :nor-v pushed by the .-end oi the outer sleeve vtoward the L smaller end of the tapered bearing portion, and is compressed inwardly -by the tapered surface on the nut toward the inner tubular sleeve to .a degree dependent upon the .amount of tightening Yof the nut.

In place of the lock-ing spring ring show/mother self-expanding toothed docking ringsrmight .be designed, but the .cylindrical ,spring annulus is the simplest Way of obtaining teeth on both the inner surface and the -side surface of the ring opposite the serrated or knurled portions of .the sleeves.

As will be evident from .the foregoing description, certain aspects of vmy invention `are not limited .to the particular .details .of ,construction of the example illustrated, and .I `contemplate that variousand other modifications and applications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, my intention that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What 'I claim as new and ydesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A'coupling for suction cleaner tubes and the like comprising an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve telescopically fitting into an end of the outer sleeve, a nut threaded on the outer sleeve, a tapered inner Wall on the nut extending over the end .of A.the outer sleeve, a resilient normally expanded compressible toothed locking ring inside said nut next to said tapered Wall and next to said end on .the outer sleeve, and serrations on said outer sleeve end and on said inner sleeve engageable by said toothed locking ring to lock said sleeves together against rotation When said nu-t is tightened and said tapered Wall ,compresses said ring.

2. A swivel and locking lcoupling for tubular sleeves .comprising an outer sleeve., an inner sleeveV 1. telescopicallgy fitting into an lend of the outer sleeve, Aa nut threaded .on the outer sleeve, a tapered inner `bearing Wall on the nut l.extending over the .end .of the outer sleeve, Aa `normally -expanded compressible ycoiled spring locking ring inside said nut next Vto said .tapered Wall and next to said end on the .outer sleeve, and serrations on said outer sleeve .end and on said inner sleeve engageable :by the `coils-,of said locking ring to lock said sleeves together against `rotation when s aidnut is tightened :and said tapered wall compr-.esses said ring, said serrationsgon said inner sleeve being located a groove surrounding said sleeve next to said outer sleeve :end lwhen said inner .sleeve -is fitted .into said outer sleeve.

3. A .coupling for tubular sections comprising an outer tubular sleeve, .a stepped .seating porl tion in said sleeve, an .inner .tubular sleeve telescopically fitting into the outersleeveagainstsaid seating portion, a nut member threadedly engagmallyitends toexpa'nd towards 4its largest possible ing thefoufer Sleeve. a tapered inner bearing Wall on Vthe nut extending over and tapering toward an endof the outer sleeve,` `a normally expandedrcompressible coiled spring looking `ring inside said nut next to said tapered `Walland next to saidend on the outer sleeve, .a circumferential groove around the inner sleeve located .to be opposite the end of theonter sleeve `vvhensaid inner sleeve is seated in Vsaid buter sleeve, and lseri-ations -on sai-d outer sleeve end and .in saidgrooveengageable by the .coils of .said locking .ring to Ylool: said sleeves together .against .rotation when said .nut is tightenedand said .tapered wallcompressessaid ring, said tapered wall allowing expansion of `sai-cl ring .to release said `spring from .said Aserrations in the .groove for swiveling A.of the sleeves when the .nut is loosened.

VICTOR .J.. GRUMBLATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references .are of record in vthe rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES yPA'rErrrs "Yonkers Dec 7, 11948 

